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"There was a spiral staircase in the middle of the room and I will never forget what happened next. A pair of feet appeared at the top of the stairs, then another pair, and another. The first face came into view. It was John, in T shirt and jeans, smiling broadly. He was closely followed by Yoko, dressed in white and looking incredibly beautiful. Lastly came an expressionless Phil Spector who didn't remove his shades the whole time I was there."
- Andy Davis
April 27th 2013: a Saturday night at the Stables, Wavendon, at what's fast becoming an annual outing to see the wonderful Stackridge. On the merch table the usual tour fare: t-shirts, back catalogue CDs, posters, plectrums (or 'plectra', as suggested later during the show by 'Let It Be' tee-sporting James Warren). But there's an unorthodox addition: Stackridge rock. Somehow it's totally in keeping with the quirky nature of the band, though my friend and I resist its teeth-attacking charms.
One might be unsurprised to find the word 'Beatles' instead of 'Stackridge' bleeding its way through each stick, such is their influence (distilled essence of 1967 onward, that is) on the band's musical DNA. Guitarist Andy Davis' Lennonesque vocals remind me of a conversation recorded with Johnnie Walker for Radio Two a few weeks ago, in which he recalled being asked to Tittenhurst Park to take part in a session for the Imagine album in lieu of the guys from Badfinger, who were otherwise engaged.
For those who missed the interview, the tale is told in detail here. Although unable to secure photographic evidence of his brief brush with rock royalty, the fruits of Andy's labours can be heard on 'How', 'Gimme Some Truth' and perhaps my all-time favourite Lennon solo recording, 'Oh Yoko!'
